Our furry buddies are our family. And if we live on the road, they’re coming too.
But there are considerations to take into account when living in an RV or converted van with a dog (or cat): Space, exercise, food, temperature and vet care…
So if you’re thinking of living on the road with a dog (or cat), here are a few ideas that will help keep you and your furry friend happy and healthy!
#1. Space
Space is one of the most important facets of living on the road with a pet.
Depending on what size RV you’re travelling in, it will affect the comfort and mobility of both you and your furry friend.
RVs and vans vary in length from 17′ to 40′, the smaller the space, the more difficult it can be for your pet to run, jump, play, eat and have a place to sleep.
Know that there are plenty of “van lifers” who live with multiple pets in very tight quarters (like, VW vanagons!)- so, it can be done! Typically, dogs living in smaller vans are taken outside often to stretch their legs, run, and exhaust themselves before heading back into a small RV.
RV Height Consideration
The age and health of your pooch are also important to consider: If your pet is older or has joint problems like hip dysplasia, they may need some extra help jumping in and out of a high RV.
Being prepared and travelling with helpful accessories like a folding, compact doggie ramp to fit your pet’s needs is essential to life on the road.
Space Experiments
If you have yet to purchase and RV, renting one out from sites like Outdoorsy and taking your pets with you for a “test-run” may help you decide what size rig you would be most comfortable with in the future.
Having the chance to experiment on the road for short amounts of time with your pet can help reveal problems you’ll need to account for before going whole hog and diving in to full-time RVing, such as: Does your dog need a doggie ramp? Where will you place the litter box for a cat? Where will the food and water bowls fit without getting in the way? Where will your dog sleep? Will a doggie bed fit, or will you all “dog pile” on the bed together?
For cats, small spaces are much less of an issue: They’re typically much smaller than many dog breeds, and on average they sleep between 12-16 hours everyday! Cats require a bit less in terms of space and movement than dogs, but they do have litter boxes and food/water bowls that will take up space…
And the smaller the RV, the most difficult it is to choose and place a cat litter box! Litter boxes are unwieldy, and can get smelly! So, finding the right spot will take a little tinkering!
#2. Exercise and Lifestyle
How much exercise does your pet need? A hyper puppy versus a sleepy cat require a different lifestyle to make sure they’re happy travelling in an RV.
If your family includes a dog, you’ll find yourself outside of your RV often: Taking walks, hiking, and spending time outside with your pooch.
For most dogs, staying cooped up in an RV without access to fresh air or a place to stretch their legs and explore their surroundings, won’t be enjoyable.
So if you’ve got a furry friend with you on the road, make sure you’re ready to head out of your RV multiple times a day to walk your dog.
Fresh air and daily doses of sunshine is good for you both!
#3. Keeping It Cool
Keeping an RV cool– especially with pets- is one of the most common problems RVers encounter.
RVs are essentially glorified metal boxes: When it’s hot outside, it’s even hotter inside, and when it’s cold outside, it’s even colder inside! To combat this reality, RVers often add Reflectix (Amazon) on windows for insulation, but depending on the weather, these adaptations will only go so far…
So, other methods of maintaining good air flow, and cooling down your RV, is needed.
Ventilation
Open windows and running ceiling fans are the first methods of keeping the internal RV temperatures comfortable for you and your pets.
In warm climates, high moisture can cause discomfort to both you and your pets, and can easily become a breeding ground for dangerous RV mold growths.
During the warm season, we open all the windows of our RV and have three fans running: one ceiling fan, one large fan for the main cabin, and one small (but powerful!) fan at the foot of the bed.
This makes life comfortable for us and our cat during most months, although, we’ve experienced temperatures of 100+ degrees, during those times, ventilation is simply not enough.
Without other means of cooling, such high temperatures can become dangerous- and possibly fatal- to you pet.
Air Conditioning
Nothing is quite as powerful as an air conditioner to cool down your RV. Unfortunately, using an A/C on the road is not as easy as using one in a traditional sticks-and-bricks home. Depending on what power source you’re using, you might not be able to just turn the air conditioner on, and leave it running with your pet alone inside.
Air conditioners are power-hungry appliances, requiring one of the following to run:
- Plugging into Shore Power
- Running the Generator
The only way to plug into shore power is to hook up to a city’s power grid; If you’re dry camping somewhere in the boonies instead of an RV resort or using family/friend’s outlets, then this won’t be an option (for a quick and dirty explanation of how electricity works in your RV, click here).
The upside of being plugged into shore power is you will have continuous energy pumping into your RV, enabling you to turn on the AC and leave your pet inside unattended.
The other option is to run your RV’s generator in order to power your air conditioning unit (check out how generators work and what options are available here).
One downside to using a generator is you’ll need to stay with your pet in the vehicle; It’s never a good idea to leave a generator running unattended, as they are capable of outputting carbon monoxide, a highly noxious gas. If anything were to go wrong while you’re away, this could spell big trouble for your pet stuck inside.
But if you know you’ll be parked in hot weather and can stay inside with your pets, running the A/C via a generator will provide some serious cool-off comfort!
Temperature Sensor
Temperature sensors are handy when you have pets travelling on the road with you. Using a device, your phone, and downloadable software, you’re able to check in with your pets in your RV, check the temperature, and make sure your dog or cat is safe while you’re gone.
A useful temperature sensor suitable for RVing with pets is the MarCELL Temperature/Humidity Monitor.
In conjunction with your phone, this device allows you to check a number of essentials in your RV, making sure your pet is safe. With the MarCELL, you can check:
- RV Temperature
- Humidity
- Power Status of RV (if the power’s off, so is your AC!)
- Water Leaks (with optional SPuck)
There are many temperature sensor options, but the MarCELL refreshes its data gathered from your RV every 10 seconds, and if anything goes wrong, the device will send a text or email directly to your phone.
One downside to this device is it requires a monthly subscription, starting under $9 per month; There are plenty of other options on the market that don’t require monthly payments, although they offer less bang for your buck.
Cooling Pads
Another solution to hot days in an RV are cooling pads for you dog.
One of the more popular cooling pads is the Chillz Cooling Mat: These dog mats don’t require refrigeration, plug-ins, or batteries, and start cooling via the dog’s weight pressing on the gel mat.
Because these mats don’t use external energy or plug in to an outlet, the cooling effects might not be enough to stave off the heat of a truly sweltering day, but they still might be able to take the edge off.
There are cooling mats made for cats as well, but they don’t seem to be quite as effective, so a different option like running the air conditioner might be a better option for them.
Head to the Beach
The great thing about living in an RV is the ability to drive anywhere at anytime! And when the hot summer months start making it uncomfortable- or even dangerous- for a pet in an RV, it might be time to head to the beach.
Parking near the shore, the wind coming off the ocean cools down the air; just open the RV’s windows and let the breeze cool down your rig.
Many cities have “doggie beaches”, where dogs can run off-leash, play in the water, and have fun while keeping cool.
Keep this option in mind if you know you’re headed toward some sweltering heat!
#4. Vet Care
Making sure you have access to health care for your pet is an important part of living on the road.
Regardless of whether you’re travelling to various places or hunkering down somewhere for a long-term stay, having a vet close by ensures your pet stays healthy and happy.
Up-to-Date Check Up + Vaccinations
Make sure you have your pet’s up-to-date vaccinations and medical history. Having this paperwork and information readily available makes future vet visits an easier, more streamlined process.
Find Local Vets Before You Head Out
Before heading out to a new destination, make sure to do some reconnaissance: Check out the local vets and animal hospitals in that area, read reviews, and make sure there’s good pet healthcare available, in case an unforeseen situation pops up!
#5. Travel Bowls
While RVing with your pet, what kind of food/water bowls to have, and where to put them, is its own little space-saving puzzle!
A great option to solve this problem is collapsible bowls for dogs or cats.
Collapsing bowls won’t shatter or break while driving like traditional ceramic pet bowls, they easily fold down to save space, and some even come with the ability to collapse-and-carry on your key chain to take on hikes or other outings with your pet!
Most collapsible/folding pet bowls are made of high grade silicone, making them light weight and durable- great for RVing!
One downside to these types of travel bowls is that cats often do better eating from elevated bowls- otherwise, vomiting after eating is common. This has been true for our sensitive cat: She now uses an elevated bowl (Amazon) with rubber coating on the metal prongs- this helps keep it in place while driving.
Conclusion
Living on the road with a dog (or cat) is a rewarding way to live. They give us love, companionship, and make RV adventures much more fun!
To make sure our furry friends remain healthy, happy and enjoy their time travelling alongside us, it’s important we meet their needs, from: Space considerations, temperature, exercise and making sure there are vets nearby.
With these pet-friendly considerations in place, you’re ready to hit the road with your furry buddy. Happy Travels!
